Male-male interactions in heterosexual and all-male wild mountain gorilla groups Export

@article{citeulike:942-965, abstract = {Variation in male dispersal and behavior patterns are components of intraspecific differences in social systems. A comparison of male behavior in different social settings can be useful for determining which behavioral mechanisms contribute to variability in social systems. Two heterosexual multimale groups and one all-male group of mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringer) were observed for over 1100 h at the Karisoke Research Centre, Rwanda. Data on proximity patterns, dominance relationships, aggression, agonistic interventions, affiliation, and homosexual behavior were compared among the males in these soups to examine the influence of female presence, sex ratio, group size, and kinship on male-male interactions. Males in the all-male group stayed closer together, affiliated more, exhibited more homosexual behavior, and were more aggressive toward each other than males in heterosexual groups. However, the males in heterosexual groups showed more wounding and more consistent dominance relationships. Kinship did nor influence male-male relationships in the all-male group. The males in the heterosexual soups rarely interacted with one another; they may actively avoid dose proximity to reduce aggression. Results suggest that the variable social system of mountain gorillas may be more strongly influenced by demographic factors, male- female social relationships, and male-male competition for males than by any benefits of male-male relationships.}, author = {Robbins, M. M.}, citeulike-article-id = {360184}, journal = {Ethology}, keywords = {aggression, baboons, behaviour, bibtex-import, cooperation, great\_apes, langurs, macaques, monkeys, reproduction}, number = {11}, pages = {942--965}, posted-at = {2005-10-21 13:45:28}, priority = {2}, title = {Male-male interactions in heterosexual and all-male wild mountain gorilla groups}, volume = {102}, year = {1996} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:942-965 L3 - citeulike-article-id:360184 N2 - Variation in male dispersal and behavior patterns are components of intraspecific differences in social systems. A comparison of male behavior in different social settings can be useful for determining which behavioral mechanisms contribute to variability in social systems. Two heterosexual multimale groups and one all-male group of mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringer) were observed for over 1100 h at the Karisoke Research Centre, Rwanda. Data on proximity patterns, dominance relationships, aggression, agonistic interventions, affiliation, and homosexual behavior were compared among the males in these soups to examine the influence of female presence, sex ratio, group size, and kinship on male-male interactions. Males in the all-male group stayed closer together, affiliated more, exhibited more homosexual behavior, and were more aggressive toward each other than males in heterosexual groups. However, the males in heterosexual groups showed more wounding and more consistent dominance relationships. Kinship did nor influence male-male relationships in the all-male group. The males in the heterosexual soups rarely interacted with one another; they may actively avoid dose proximity to reduce aggression. Results suggest that the variable social system of mountain gorillas may be more strongly influenced by demographic factors, male- female social relationships, and male-male competition for males than by any benefits of male-male relationships. IS - 11 JF - Ethology EP - 965 TI - Male-male interactions in heterosexual and all-male wild mountain gorilla groups VL - 102 SP - 942 KW - aggression KW - baboons KW - behaviour KW - bibtex-import KW - cooperation KW - great_apes KW - langurs KW - macaques KW - monkeys KW - reproduction AU - Robbins, MM PY - 1996/// ER -